Ray Villafane's funny and spooky carved pumpkins are wondrous sights to behold. Make interviewed him about his background and what's involved in this craft. When asked about the tools that he uses, Villafane wrote:

99% of the carvings I do are done with various-sized ribbon loop tools. These are standard tools for clay potters and sculptors. The great thing about these tools is that they are not sharp at all, keeping it safe for kids. I use a paring knife to sharpen up the details in the end, but you would be surprised how far you can get without ever using a knife!